Cartridge-deflecting means for repeating firearms



Aug. 15, y1944. D, M W|L| |AMS 2,355,769

I l CARTRIDGE-DEFLECTING MEANS FOR REPEATING FIREARMS Filed Feb. 13, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lalIIlJlllllllIlTJ C g CECC T- mm haw mw w A v n 2 sheets-sheet 2 D. M. WILLIAMS Filed Feb. 13, 1942 CARTRIDGE-DEFLECTING MEANS FOR`REPEATING FIREARMS l lvlNN l ||.I| lnln dwllllHUnnlllllUlHu.. |.Jf

Aug. l5, 1944.

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Patented Aug. l5, 1944 CARTRIDGE-DEFLECTING MEANS FOR REPEATING FIREARMS David M. Williams, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Western 'Cartridge Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 13, 1942, Serial N o. 430,782

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in krepeating firearms and relates more particularly to means incorporated in such firearms whereby ejected cartridge-casings will be deilected into harmless paths.

Note may here be made that repeating firearms and particularly self-loading repeating firearms-are apt to eilect the ejection of cartridgecasings with such violence that there is grave dangerthat the marksman will be struck by such cartridge-casings, orat least will have his vision blurred on occasion by'an ejected cartridge-casing momentarily interrupting his line of sight.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a repeating firearm with superior cartridge-deecting means of such character that it may be relied upon to effectively deflect cartridge-casings away from' the marksman and, at the same time, avoid complicating the mechanism of the firearm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a repeating firearm with superior cartridge-deflecting means which will supplement the normal cartridge-ejecting means of the firearm in directing ejected cartridge-casings into a consistently-harmless path.

A further object of' the present invention is to provide a repeating firearm with superior cartridge-deflecting means of a static character and therefore not requiring either bearings or power for its effective operation.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this Ainvention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the' accompanying drawings, in which certainmodes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a' broken view of the central portion of `a self-'loading repeating firearm embodying-the present invention and showingthe same partly in side elevation and partly in vertical centrallongitudinal section, with the partsin the positions which they assume at the instant of the discharge of the firearm;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa broken top or plan view substantially corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in the positions which they assume when the breech-bolt has been retired substantially the length of a cartridge-casing;

Fig. 4 isa view substantiallycorresponding to Figs. 2v and 3 and illustrating the parts in substantially the positions which they assume when the breech-bolt has nearly reached the limit of its rearward travel and when the ejected cartridge-casing engages with the cartridge-deflecting surface of the receiver;

Fig. 5 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on'the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a topi or plan view of the receiver detached;

Fig. 7' is a broken perspective View of the rear portion of the action-slide and viewing the same mainly' toward the rear and inner face thereof;

Fig. 8 is a top or plan View of the breech-bolt unit detached;

Fig. 9 is a broken longitudinal sectional view taken' on theline 9 9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line |0-|0 of Fig. 8.

The particularrearrn herein chosen for purposes of illustrating the present invention is of the gas-operated self-loading type and-includes in the main a stock 2|); a barrel 2|, a receiver 22, a trigger-plate 23 and a barrel-cover or handguard 24. The stock' 20 and the barrel-cover 24 just referred to are preferablyformed of wood or other suitable heat-insulating material, while the barrel 2| and trigger-platen are' rigidly secured to the receiver 22 and together therewith are preferably formed of high-grade steel.

The receiver 22 is formed at its forward end with a band-like portion 25 into which is threaded'or otherwise secured the rear end of the barrel 2|. Axially in line with the barrel 2| and rearwardly of its band-like forward portion 25; the receiver 22 is formed in its interior with a bolt-receiving chamber 26 in which a breech-bolt 2l both reciprocates longitudinally of the iire-v arm and oscillates transversely thereof.

Immediately to the rear of its band-like forward portion 25, the receiver 22 is cut away in its upper portion to form an ejection-opening 28 opening mainly upwardly, though partly laterally to the right, from the bolt-receiving chamber 26. Extending rearwardly from the ejection-opening 28 just referred to is a longitudinal clearanceslot 29 which communicates laterally with both the interior and exterior of the receiver 22. The said clearance-slot 29 is mainly in the right side of the receiver 22 and at its forward end its upper wall merges into the rear portion of a cartridgedeilecting surface 3U. The said cartridge-deflecting surface, though of arcuate form, has a general inclination rearwardly and to the right, and its forward portion merges smoothly into the left side of the straight portion of the ejection-opening 28 before referred to.

Leading circumferentially in a clockwise direction from the right side of the forward portion of the ejection-opening 28, immediately to the rear of the band-like portion 25 of the receiver, is a clearance-notch 3| having its rear wall shaped to provide a forwardly-facing lockingabutment 32 for purposes as will hereinafter appear- Laterally opposite the clearance-notch 3| just referred to and leading circumferentially in a counterclockwise direction from the forward portion of the left side of the ejection-opening 28, is a clearance-notch 33 having its rear wall shaped to provide a forwardly-facing lockingabutment 34 serving to hold the breech-bolt 21 in its breech-closing position in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

Mounted in the `bolt-receiving chamber 26 of the receiver 22 with capacity for both axial reciprocation and transverse oscillation therein, is the `breech-bolt 21 before referred to. The said breech-bolt exteriorly is of substantially cylindrical form',V save that adjacent its forward end it is formed with two oppositely-projecting locking-lugs 35 and 36 respectively adapted to swing into and out ofthe clearance-notches 3| and 33 in the forward portion of the receiver 22 in amanner Ygenerally similar to that of the well-known Garand military rifle.

The right locking-lug 35 of the breech-bolt 21 is formed withan extension 31 which enters a camreces's`38` formed in the inner face of the rear portion of a bar 39 constituting a feature of a reciprocating action-slide generally designated by the reference character 46. As is shown especially well infFig. 7, the rear portion of the bar 39 of the action-slide 40 is formed with an outwardly-extending finger-piece 4|. The action-slide 46 above referred to includes inA addition tothe bar 39, a crosshead 42 integral with the forward end of the said bar and positioned forreciprocation beneath the barrel 2|. The bar 3-9 of the action-slide is guided for reciprocating movement longitudinally of the firearm structure and adjacent the side of the receiver 22, inA any approved manner such, for instance, as in the manner disclosed in the copending application of Frederick L. Humeston, Serial No. 411,783, filed September 22, 1941, now Patent No. 2,308,283, dated Jan. 12, 1943.

Thrusting forwardly against the crosshead 42 of the action-slide 40 fis the forward end of a breech-closing plunger 4,3 (Fig. 1) encircled and urged forwardly by a helical breech-closing spring 44 seated in a forwardly-opening longitudinal pocket 45 formed in the right side ofthe receiver 22. As thus constructed and arranged, the breech-closing spring 44 exerts a constant but yielding effort te move the action-slide 46 to the limit of its forward movement and hence also serves to normally yieldingly hold the breechbolt 21 in its forward breech-closing position.

For the purpose of effecting the automatic rearward movement of the breech-bolt 21 when the firearm is discharged, the barrel 2! is formed with ,an integral downwardly-extending lug 46 provided, in turn, with a rearwardly-opening piston-chamber 41 extending in substantial parallelism with the axis of the barrel 2|. The lug 46 just 'referred to is also formed with a gas-passage 48 leading forwardly and upwardly from the front end of the said piston-chamber 41 into communication with the bore 49 of the barrel 2|. The rear end of the bore 49 is suitably reamed the piston-chamber 41 in the lug 46. The rear 'l end of the stem 53 is normally engaged by a portion ofthe crosshead 42 of the action-slide 40 While the head 5 2 of the piston is normally stopped against the front wall of the pistonchamber 41 and held thereagainst by the tension of the breech-closing spring 44 acting through the intermediary of the crosshead 42.

By reference to Fig. 9 in particular, it will be noted that the breech-bolt 21 is formed in its forward face with a recess 55 which is adapted to successively receive the head ends of cartridgecasings such, for instance, as the cartridge-casing 56 shown in the drawings. Extending axially through the breech-bolt 21 is a firing-plunger 51 which is adapted to be driven forwardly in any suitable manner to discharge the firearm. In the structure shown, the said firing-plunger is adapted to be driven forwardly by the impact of a pivotal hammer 58 mounted in the triggerplate 23 before referred to and controlled in any suitable manner by a triggerl 59.

Eccentrically of and parallel with the firingplunger 51, the breech-bolt 21 is formed with a forwardly-opening pocket, 66 in which reciprocates a plunger-like cartridge-ejector 6|, as is especially well shown in Fig. 9. The forward end of the cartridge-ejector 6| is adapted to extend into the recess 55 in the forward end of the breech-bolt 21, adjacent the periphery of the said recess and for purposes of ejecting a cartridge in a manner as will more fully hereinafter appear.V The cartridge-ejector 6| is yieldingly urged forwardly by a helical ejector-spring 62 interposed between the rear end of the said cartridge-ejector and the bottom of the pocket 66.

rI'he firing-plunger 51 and the cartridge-ejector 5| Aare respectively formed in one side with shallow notches 63 and 64 through which transversely extend the cylindrically-contoured stem 65 of a pivotal cartridge-extractor generally designated bythe reference character 66. As thus constructed and arranged, the stem 65 of the extractor 66 serves to limtthe rearwarddrift of the iiring-plunger 51 and the forward movement of the cartridge-ejector 6|.

The cylindrically-contoured stem 65 of the extractor -66 is mounted for pivotal movement in a. tangential passage 61 in the forward portion of the breech-bolt 21 while the body portion of the cartridge-extractor 66 is accommodated with capacity for swinging movement in a diagonal recess 68 opening through the forward face of the breech-bolt 21 to one side of the recess 55 therein.

The cartridge-extractor 66 is formed with an extractor-nose 69 which is curved in a direction circumferentially of the breech-bolt 21 and extends into the adjacent side of the recess 55. The said extractor-nose 69 is adapted to hook over the head of a cartridge-casing such as the cartridge-casing 56 for the purpose of drawing such cartridge-casing rearwardly out of the cartridge-chamber 56 in the barrel 2|. The cartridge-extractor. 66 is urged by a helical spring 10 to turn about its stem 65 as a center in a direction required to engagejits extractor-nose B9 successively with the'heads of cartridge-casings.

As'will be seen by reference to the drawings, thereceiver 22 to the rear of its'band-like forward portion 25 is open to provide the ejectionopening 28 before referredv to. In addition-to providingy for the ejection of cartridge-casings, the ejection-openingV 28 permits, if desired, the insertion of single cartridges into a position forwardly of the breech-bolt 21 (when the latter is retired) for insertion by the said breech-bolt into the cartridge-chamber 50 of the barrel 2|. Normally, however, it is preferred that cartridges be fed from below the breech-bolt by any suitable means such, for instance, as by means of a boxmagazine shown in Fig. 1.

When the firearm is discharged, gas pressure from the bore 49 of the barrel 2| will pass through the gas-passage 48 in the lug 4E with the effect of driving the piston rearwardly until the rear face of its head 52 engages with the forward face of the tubular stop-member 54. This rearward movement of the piston as just described, while but of short length, will drive the action-slide 40 rearwardly against the tension of the breech-closing spring 44 until the said action-slide reaches the limit of its rearward travel, which position is indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4.

As soon as the action-slide 40 starts rearwardly under the impulse of the piston 5| as above described, the contours of the cam-recess 38 of the said action-slide will first cause the breechbolt 21 to be turned slightly in a clockwise direction (when viewed from the front) with the effect of disengaging the locking-lugs 35 and 36 of the breech-bolt from the complemental locking-'abutments 32 and 34 of the receiver 22. The turning movement of the breech-bolt as just described, will effect its rotation into substantially the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 5, so that both the cartridge-ejector 6| and the cartridge-extractor 66 will also be shifted with respect to the receiver 22.

After the unlocking of the breech-bolt has taken place as above described, the continued rearward movement of the action-slide 40 under the impulse imparted to it by the piston 5|, will carry the said breech-bolt 21 rearwardly with great rapidity, and since the cartridge-extractor 66 moves rearwardly with the said breech-bolt, the cartridge-casing 56 or its equivalent will be drawn rearwardly out of the cartridge-chamber 50. For purposes of description, the breech-bolt and associated parts may be viewed as having reached substantially the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3 just before the forward end of the cartridge-casing 56 ls clear of the rear end of the cartridge-chamber 5D.

While the following described detailed timing of the actions is varied by different tensions of the breech-closing spring 44 and the ejectorspring 62 as well as by the type of the cartridge employed, it may be assumed for purposes of description that the sequence of operation occurs as follows.

Substantially as soon as the forward end of the cartridge-casing 56 clears the rear end of the barrel 2 I, the spring-pressed cartridge-ejector 6I will be f-ree to assert itself and swing the forward end of the said cartridge-casing upwardly about the extractor-nose 69 as a fulcrum. The

vrearward travel of the breech-bolt 21 and the parts carried thereby, however, will be so rapid that boththe said breech-bolt and action-slide 4flwwill have been moved'to substantially the positions in which they are shown by full' lines in Fig. 4.,*before thefcartridge-casing 56 swings fully 'upwardly into the position iny which it is shown by fulllinesfin the said Fig. 4, in which position it will be noted the said cartridge-casing is in engagement with the sloping cartridge-deiiecting surface 30 of the receiver 22. Since the said cartridge-casing 56`is at this time not only swinging upwardly through the ejection-opening 28 butv is also bodily moving rearwardly with the breechbolt 21, the said cartridge-deflecting surface 3|) will act to deect the cartridge-casing 56 to the right side of the firearm structure and owing to the rebound effect, the said cartridge-casing will have imparted to it a slight forward movement, so that in its departure from the firearm structure it will at one point in its flight assume substantially the position in which it is indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4. Regardless of the detailed timing, the described structure will in all cases cause the extracted and ejected cartridgecasings to engage with and be laterally deected f by the cartridge-deflecting surface of the receiver.

By extending an upper portion of the receiver 22 over the breech-bolt 21, not only is the interior of the said receiver largely shielded from the access of dirt, etc., but the said extended portion of the receiver provides a rigid backing for the cartridge-deflecting surface 3|] or its equivalent.

Thus by means of the present invention, the deiiection of cartridge-casings just extracted from the cartridge-chamber of the firearm is directed with certainty into a path away from the marksman and away from the marksmans line of sighting.

The invention may be carried out in other specii'lc ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A repeating firearm structure including in combination: a receiver including a top wall and ,having a bolt-receiving chamber therein and an ejection-opening communicating with both the said bolt-receiving chamber and with the upper outer surface of the top wall of the receiver; a rearwardly-and-laterally-inclined cartridge-deiiecting surface on the top wall of the said receiver at the rear of the said ejection-opening therein: a breech-bolt reciprocating in the boltreceiving chamber of the said receiver; an extractor carried by the said breech-bolt; a cartridge-ejector carried by the said breech-bolt; and ejector-spring means also carried by the said breech-bolt and urging the said ejector forwardly relative to the said breech-bolt; the said cartridge-extractor and the said ejector being positioned on the said breech-bolt in position to throw a cartridge-casing against the cartridgedeflecting surface at the rear` of the ejectionopening in the said receiver to cause the said cartridge-deflecting surface to deflect the said cartridge-casing laterally away from the said receiver.

2. A repeating firearm structure including in combination: a receiver including a top wall and having a bolt-receiving chamber therein and an ejection-opening communicating with both the lsaid bolt-receiving chamber and with the upper outer surface of the top wall of the receiver; a rearwardly and laterally inclined longitudinally-curved cartridge-deecting surface on the v5 `top wall of the said receiver at the rear of the said ejection-opening therein; a breech-bolt reciprocating in the bolt-receiving chamber of the .said receiver; an extractor carried by the said breech-bolt; a cartridge-ejector carried by the said breech-bolt; and ejector-spring means also carried by the said breech-bolt and urging the `10 receiver.

said ejector forwardly relative to the said breechbolt; the said cartridge-extractor and the said ejector being positioned on the said breech-bolt curved cartridgefdeecting surface to deflect the said cartridge-casing laterally away from the said A DAVID M. WILLIAMS. 

